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Monday, 26 October 2009

Hugo the Hedgehog.

We've had a bit of wildlife related drama at Tumbledown Farm today. Everyday once milking has finished in the morning we put the girls out into the main day area of the goat house where they go during the day, they like to lay around and snooze there and then wander outside into the yard and down the field if the weather is nice enough. In the evenings they all come in and have their own pens that they either have to themsleves or share with a close goaty friend. It seems that last night, after the girls had gone to bed and the day area had been tidied we had a visitor. This morning when we looked into the day area there was a tiny little brown ball near the main door. On closer inspection we discovered that it was a very tiny baby hedgehog. After a little conversation with baby Hugo we discovered that he really wasn't feeling too well, he was very cold and sleepy and didn't even want to try to hide when we said hello.

On realising the little fellow wasn't too happy I quickly went to get a cat carry case, lined it with fresh hay and gently scooped up baby Hugo and popped him in. The poor little fellow was so weak he didn't even bat an eye at me. I popped in some cat food and water for him in the hope that he was just hungry and would perk up but sadly he didn't. He seemed too cold to want to engage in any activity. I quickly made a makeshift hedgehog hot water bottle and popped it in with him. Then I set about calling the the local vets to find out where our nearest hedgehog rescue centre was. Luckily there was one just a few miles down the road. So off I went to with baby Hugo to the hedgehog rescue. He is now in their intensive care unit and we will have to wait and see if this poor little chap will make it. He is far too small to spend winter outside. So everyone please keep their fingers crossed that Hugo the hedgehog will make it.

We don't have hedgehogs here, but my daughter rescued baby possums when she was in high school. She had two, one didn't survive, but the other did. My daughter was very happy when the little possum was big enough to make it on his own.

We hardly ever see ours as they tend to visit in the middle of the night - which is sad in some ways because I'd love to get photos - but it is also, I suppose, the way it should be - you always know something is wrong if you see one out in daytime.

Oh, I hope he is okay. He is very cute even though he doesn't feel well. We don't have hedgehogs here. But, I have delivered ducklings, a hawk baby, a baby quail and a cottontail rabbit to rescue centers. What would we do without them?

I hope he will be OK... I often find hedgehogs around my house, in the evening or at night. At this time of year they are looking for a place to sleep during winter, but this one is too small to survive alone.